Tax-free shopping on Saturday after Thanksgiving

Joan Hector, looks through the outside book shelves at Coas Bookstore, in downtown Las Cruces, Saturday, March 25, 2017. Coas was recently named one of the best new and used bookstores in the state by Real Simple an online shopping and lifestyle magazine.(Photo: Josh Bachman/Sun-News)Buy Photo

This article is a potpourri of information as we find ourselves in the final months of the year. First, from the Chamber Board of Directors and staff, we wish you all the blessings and thankfulness this Thanksgiving season. We trust you, your family and friends will create many memories throughout this time and moving into the holiday season.

Speaking of the holiday season … yes the time of Santa Claus, lights on trees and music is just around the corner. Lest I forgot, shopping, shopping, shopping! Speaking of which, do you know that the Saturday after Thanksgiving is Small Business Saturday and it’s a tax free shopping day! People shopping at small local businesses on the Saturday after Thanksgiving won’t have to pay state gross receipts taxes thanks to HB 79, a bill sponsored by Rep. Doreen Gallegos that was passed during the 2018 legislative session and signed into law on March 2. The purpose is to help increase sales during the Christmas holiday season at small local businesses, on the national shopping day known as Small Business Saturday. The particulars of this bill are as follows:

Small retail businesses that maintain its primary place of business in New Mexico (as determined by the NMTRD) with no more than 10 employees will be allowed to participate in the new tax holiday. Franchise businesses, even ones with 10 employees or less, would be excluded.

Prior to July 1, 2020, receipts from the sale at retail of the following types of tangible personal property may be deducted if the sales price of the property is less than $500 and the sale occurs during the period beginning at 12:01 a.m. on the first Saturday after Thanksgiving and ending at midnight on the same Saturday.

Allowable tangible property includes: an article of clothing or footwear designed to be worn on or about the human body; (b) accessories, including jewelry, handbags, book bags, backpacks, luggage, wallets, watches and similar items worn or carried on or about the human body, without regard to whether worn on the body in a manner characteristic of clothing; (c) sporting goods and camping equipment; (d) tools used for home improvement, gardening and automotive maintenance and repair; (e) books, journals, paper, writing instruments, art supplies, greeting cards and postcards; (f) works of art, including any painting, drawing, print, photograph, sculpture, pottery or ceramics, carving, textile, basketry, artifact, natural specimen, rare book, authors' papers, objects of historical or technical interest or other article of intrinsic cultural value; (g) floral arrangements and indoor plants; (h) cosmetics and personal grooming items; (i) musical instruments; (j) cookware and small home appliances for residential use; (k) bedding, towels and bath accessories; (l) furniture; (m) a toy or game that is a physical item, product or object clearly intended and designed to be used by children or families in play; (n) a video game or video game console and any associated accessories for the video game console; or (o) home electronics such as computers, phones, tablets, stereo equipment and related electronics accessories.

Qualified small business owners allowed to participate on Small Business Saturday will report the amount of the tax deduction separately in a manner required by the NMTRD.

So, plan an exciting shopping trip to our local retail businesses the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Thank you Rep. Gallegos for your commitment to small business and getting this legislation passed and signed.

The political commercials are gone…at least for the time being. Yes, we’ve made it through the midterm elections. And, as always, all of our choices may not have been successful in their respective races. In the midst of this political climate, I encourage all of us to be kind to one another, while oftentimes “agreeing to disagree.” Our political affiliations, our beliefs and ideologies may differ, but we are all Las Crucens and all Americans. The Chamber stands ready to work with our elected officials to move our community forward. Business and economic growth and development is, as always, the Chamber’s number one priority. We will continue to monitor issues impacting businesses.

Lastly, the Chamber has many activities, luncheons and events from now through the middle of December. There are many opportunities for you to become engaged. These include, but aren’t limited to: Business Over Breakfast-BOB (11/27/18), 2019 Legislative Send-Off Luncheon (12/13/18) & Mayor’s Pulse of the City Luncheon (12/19/18). For pricing & specific information, please call the Chamber at 575.524.1968.

Make a difference this season of thanksgiving & celebration. We are as always, LASCRUCESSTRONG!

Debi Moore is CEO and executive director of the Greater Las Cruces Chamber of Commerce.